Fountain Pen Shopping in Madras: Gem and Company, Esplanade, Chennai

Gem & Co Pvt Ltd  New No 38/40 Old No 215/216, N S C Bose Road, Parrys, Chennai - 600001 is the most prominent shop located just opposite to Madras Law College. Most of the fountain pen stores are concentrated in the esplanade area on NSC Bose road. The store was started in the late 1920s by N.C. Cunnan and Venkatrangam and they have no branches. This 80 plus years old fountain pen store have an illustrious past as one of the well established pen stores in the south of India and were representing major fountain pen brands of the day (main dealers) like Pelikan, Parker and Sheaffer. The store is devoted exclusively in fountain pens, ballpoint pens, fountain pen inks and refills never concentrated on other stationery items. During early days the imported fountain pens from Britain since no Indian fountain pen was readily available in the market. They have started selling their own fountain pen brand 'Gama Pens'  about 50 years ago. Servicing fountain pens was their forte and their authorized service center (various brands) handled 100 pen services a day and now this figure has reduced to 20 numbers. Now the store is being run by the grandchildren of these two people and even now selling all major brands of fountain pens and ball pens too.

Reference:

1. Madras Pen Shops http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/70913-madras-pen-shops/
2. Survivors Of Time — A pen for your thoughts http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/survivors-of-time-a-pen-for-your-thoughts/article4238049.ece